Edmonton Oilers 2007 HRDR - Yrs 1979 to 1983

Edmonton Oilers

2007 Version

Historical Review of Draft Results

Years 1979 - 1983

Please reserve comment for a future post wherein I will request commentary on the review as a whole.

1979

With the greatest hockey player of all time already in the fold the Oilers draft another of the top-10 players of all time (Messier), one of the top-20 scoring right wingers of all time (Anderson) and one of the top-20 defensive defensemen of all time (Lowe).

A pretty good draft all things considered. Quite possibly the best draft year by any team. Ever. Of the other three guys... who really cares?

1980

In 1980 the team adds one of the top-10 defensemen of all time (Coffey) and one of the top-20 wingers of all time (Kurri) to the fold. A Stanley Cup nucleus in two easy drafts.

Moog would be a stalwart for the Oilers in net (until Fuhr took the top job for good in 1983-84) and had a long, distinguished career. Poddubny also had a solid NHL career (just not as an Oiler) and three 'star' quality seasons with the Rangers & Nordiques.

Another great draft.

1981

Fuhr would become one of the top-10 to 15 goaltenders of all-time while Steve Smith would go on to have a long, if not distinguished, career (despite the most infamous goal in Oiler history). With Fuhr, that makes for six HOF caliber careers in just three drafts.

Habschied managed to string a career together while bouncing between the different NHL teams (345 games), their respective farm systems and the Canadian National team. Four other players got a look-see as Sather tried to fill out the roster.

1982

Drafted at the age of 30, Pouzar was a gem of a player who simply tired of the NHL after three years in. Despite his 'borderline' tag, rest assured that if he had come over (been drafted) earlier he would be ranked higher.

Summanen would have two good years in Edmonton before going on to Vancouver and fizzling out. Playfair, Graves and Clark wouldn't even manage to do that. Note that Playfair was the first Oilers 1st that didn't have a HOF caliber career (no pressure there, eh?)

1983

Tikkanen - Gretzky - Kurri. One of the greatest lines the NHL has ever seen. A talented checking forward who defined the term 'shadow', Tikkanen was known in the NHL for his big-game/clutch play (72 play-off goals rank him in the top-15 all-time).

A prototypical 'big' man, Beukeboom had a solid career in the NHL before injuries forced his retirement in the 98-99 season. A career minor league call-up, Barber would play with an assortment of NHL teams while Miner got a 14 game audition with the Oil drop in 87-88. He didn't last.

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Edmonton Oilers 2007 HRDR - Introduction
Edmonton Oilers 2007 HRDR - Draft Results Summation

Edmonton Oilers 2007 HRDR - Yrs 1979 to 1983
Edmonton Oilers 2007 HRDR - Yrs 1984 to 1988
Edmonton Oilers 2007 HRDR - Yrs 1989 to 1993
Edmonton Oilers 2007 HRDR - Yrs 1994 to 1998
Edmonton Oilers 2007 HRDR - Yrs 1999 to 2003
Edmonton Oilers 2007 HRDR - Yrs 2004 to 2007

Edmonton Oilers 2007 HRDR - Draft Results By Year
Edmonton Oilers 2007 HRDR - Draft Results By Pick
Edmonton Oilers 2007 HRDR - Draft Results By Round
Edmonton Oilers 2007 HRDR - Draft Results By Age
Edmonton Oilers 2007 HRDR - Draft Results By Position
Edmonton Oilers 2007 HRDR - Draft Results By League
Edmonton Oilers 2007 HRDR - Draft Results By Country of Birth

Edmonton Oilers 2007 HRDR - Player Grading System
Edmonton Oilers 2007 HRDR - Graded Players Summary
Edmonton Oilers 2007 HRDR - Data Set Changes

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Have a great evening everyone.